2 involved in bomb attack on Khulna Krishak League office held: police

Police today claimed to have arrested two operatives of militant group “Neo JMB” who were allegedly involved in last year’s bomb attacks on a Krishak League office and police’s motorcycle garage in Khulna.   

Arrestees -- Nur Mohammad Anik (24) and Muzahidul Islam Rafi (23) -- are students of Khulna University and active operatives of the group, police said.

Police arrested them during a raid in Khulna city’s Gollamari road area early today and recovered bomb making materials from their possession, Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandaker Lutful Kabir told reporters at a press conference at his office today.

Kabir claimed both arrestees in primary interrogation admitted their involvement with the bomb attacks.

Police officials said the arrestees were radicalised by watching online videos of various militant groups. They acquired expertise in making Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and other bombs, and planned the attacks.

As part of their plan, they rented houses in different areas of the city to produce bombs and did recces before the attacks.

The bombs they exploded in both the attacks were remote-controlled ones, the police officer said.   

At least two persons were injured in the attack on Krishak League office on September 23 last year while a motorcycle was damaged in another bomb attack on a police garage on December 5 that year.

Terrorist group Islamic State (IS) claimed the responsibilities of both the attacks, according to US-based SITE Intelligence Group.

Replying to a query, KMP commissioner, however, claimed that they did not find arrestees’ any link to the global terror group.

Both the arrestees belonged to poor families and police were trying to find out their sources of fund, he said.